Rifle · Proprietary
.500 Jeffery
One of the most powerful bolt-action dangerous-game cartridges of the interwar era.
- Caliber
- 0.5098″ · 12.95 mm
- Introduced
- 1920
- Case
- Rebated Rimless
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1920
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- Germany
- Inventor
- August Schüler
- Manufacturer
- W. J. Jeffery & Co.
- Standard
- Proprietary
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Scarce
- Twist (typical)
- 1:15
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rebated Rimless
- Max pressure
- 55,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 100 yd
- Max range
- 1000 yd
- Recoil
- 75–95 ft·lb
Ballistics
Velocity only, no drag model: no published ballistic coefficient is on file for .500 Jeffery, so this is the shape gravity alone gives the advertised velocity. Drag would steepen it. The tool below solves real loads through their published G1 or G7 model.
Open in Ballistic Compare- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 12.95 | 0.510 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 13.67 | 0.538 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 15.42 | 0.607 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 12.6° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 15.72 | 0.619 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 14.61 | 0.575 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.32 | 0.052 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 8.33 | 0.328 | ≈ |
| Case length | 69.85 | 2.750 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 88.09 | 3.468 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .500 Jeffery is highlighted below.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .500 Jeffery
12 models in the database chamber .500 Jeffery. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Schüler designed the round to bring .505 Gibbs-class stopping power into the 1898 Mauser action already used for the 7×57 and 8×57. Jeffery adopted and rebranded it for the British sporting market after WWI. Its rebated rim — larger case body than rim — let a big-bore cartridge work through a standard magnum bolt face, though it demands careful feeding.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .500 Jeffery use?
- .500 Jeffery typically uses a 1:15 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .500 Jeffery?
- .500 Jeffery uses a 0.5098″ (12.95 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .500 Jeffery still in production?
- .500 Jeffery is active; typical availability is scarce.
- What is .500 Jeffery used for?
- .500 Jeffery is primarily used for hunting.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →